Hooray for traffic stops
The June 21 letter by Mark Herzfeld (“Patrol’s harassment campaign in full swing”) sounds like a “sour-grapes” complaint.
If the 6,651 speeding tickets issued resulted in that many motorists obeying the traffic laws, then hip! hip! hooray! for the police, sheriff and highway patrol officers.
Note to motorists: Those speed limit signs are the law — not a suggestion.
Dean Benjamin, Federal Heights
It's funny how so many complain about the lack of enforcement when it comes to immigration laws, but complain when the police enforce traffic laws.......
Posted by Clarence Bodinger on July 9, 2007 12:51 AMPeople complain about all enforcement I think. Time to support law enforcement instead of bash them.
Posted by on July 9, 2007 07:45 AMA nation of many laws will have many criminals. Just wait until they target your favorite manner of breaking the law.
Posted by on July 9, 2007 08:26 AMWhen was the last time a cop found a stolen car, or found a car trespasser ? answer = NEVER! speeding tickets are the main source of what cops jobs are now
REVENUE GENERATORS FOR THE CITY!
they DO NOTHING ELSE!
Posted by Fresh on July 9, 2007 09:40 AMThat's funny, I didn't see any law enforcement last Wednesday (July 4th) for all the idiots out setting off fireworks who were breaking the law.
Guess that doesn't generate the revenue, hmmmmm?
Posted by TL on July 9, 2007 09:45 AMHey Fresh- You're right. I'm sure all of those NYPD officers that died responding to the 9/11 attacks were nothing more than ticket writers.
Posted by BO on July 9, 2007 09:46 AMBO, yep I bet most of them were!
Posted by Fresh on July 9, 2007 09:58 AMYep. Police are just like lawyers. Everybody hates them until they need them.
Posted by Paulie on July 9, 2007 02:07 PMDean Benjamin writes: "Those speed limit signs are the law — not a suggestion"
True, but they can and often are bad law and nothing more than a revenue generator. Speed doesn't kill. Differences in speed kill.
Posted by MM on July 9, 2007 02:22 PMI think it was in The Great Gatsby, where they said there is nothing wrong with a careless driver until they meet up with another careless driver...
Posted by Roy on July 9, 2007 02:41 PMIf they enforced immigration laws like they do traffic laws, there would be about 25 million less criminals in the USA.
Posted by on July 9, 2007 03:08 PMHard to complain about traffic law enforcement in light of the horrific fatal accidents lately. Buckle up, slow down and drive defensively. Not only do you increase your odds of arriving safely, you set a good example for your teens as they get ready to use that shiny new drivers license.
My dad was a Denver cop for almost 40 years. He used to say that people loved him or hated him, it just depended on why they were having a conversation with him in the first place.
Posted by Michael R. on July 9, 2007 04:20 PMFresh on July 9, 2007 09:40 AM
Wait until a police officer saves your life or until you really need one to help you. I'll bet you'll still be the ranting, ungrateful curmudgeon that you are now!
Posted by Beavis on July 10, 2007 03:11 AMAt least idiots lighting off firecrackers usually only injure themselves, unlike those who speed... it's called priorities people.
Posted by on July 10, 2007 05:35 AM"it's called priorities people."
Exactly. Priorities like this: Two killed in 3 metro shootings overnight.
Posted by John II on July 10, 2007 08:26 AMI once had a police officer tell me, "I'm not out here to protect you but to inforce the law. Fend for yourself." Now, I do exactly that and avoid calling 9-1-1.
Posted by John Shriver on July 10, 2007 09:24 AM03:08 pm: Very good point. For some weird reason, if a cop encounters an illegal alien they won’t arrest them. I guess doing so is too politically incorrect.
Dean Benjamin wrote: “Note to motorists: Those speed limit signs are the law — not a suggestion.”
Well, he’s almost right. Several years ago the Colorado State Patrol came right out and admittedly said that it is dangerous for motorists to drive at or below the posted speed limit in the far left lane. They understand a couple of things: 1) That the posted speed limits are purposely set lower than what is actually safe for a particular road or highway because they are set for the lowest common denominator (polite talk for dumb people), and 2) that human nature is to go a little faster than those posted speed limits anyway and the cops are not going to remain draconian about enforcing minor speeding offenses. So they will allow a person to go at least 5 to 10 miles over the posted limit as long as conditions are safe to do so, such as dry road surfaces, etc.
I’ll have to admit that I often drive over the posted speed limit. But if I get pulled over by a cop I take my lumps given and will always present myself in a very respectful manner to the officer for he/she is doing his/her job as the law has outlined. I lost my right to be rude the second I acceded the speed limit.
It’s too bad that there are many drivers out there who will have the absolutist attitude, like Dean Benjamin might have, that the speed limits are the absolute law and by golly if it says 55 mph and if they feel like sitting in the far left lane because they paid for it, then by golly those behind them will just have to change their driving habits to fit the absolutist.
What I would like see is that the right lane be for people who want to drive below the speed limit, the middle lane(s) for those who want to drive right at the speed limit and have the far left lane for those who want to go 5 or 10 miles over the posted speed limit. In some countries that is actually the law and semi-trucks are strictly forbidden to be in the left lane at all. If that was strictly adhered to here, our roads would be far safer for everyone.
You know what would make our roads safer? (and help curb Global Warming!)
Raise the License Standard.
Stop giving a driver's license to every idiot who applies and can make it around the parking lot without hitting anything.
Fresh, AKA Moron. Cops catch felons every day! How do ya think all those people end up in our overcrowded prisions? I sure don't think they are in there for doing 35 in a 30. Your comments are always LAME.
Posted by on July 11, 2007 07:52 AMNote to motorists: Those speed limit signs are the law — not a suggestion.
While this is true it ignores the fact that there is a federal law on how cities, counties and states set speed limits. This law is the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and Colorado has signed on to accept this as the law in the state.
The MUTCD states that once every five years the city, county or state that has jurisdiction over the road must do a speed survey and the speed limit has to be set within 5 MPH of the speed of the 85th percentile. This means that if 85% of the vehicles driving on I-25 are going 65 MPH the posted speed limit can be NO LOWER than 60 MPH. If the speed limit is set lower then this than according to case law it constitutes an illegal speed trap. If fact if you get a speeding ticket and decide to go to court the first thing to ask the prosecuting attorney is for a copy of the speed survey, if they don't have one the case should be thrown out.
Did you ever wonder why on I-25, I-70 and 6th Ave that the speed limit goes from 55 MPH to 65 MPH once you leave the City and County of Denver; because Denver uses this illegal speed trap to generate revenue. Drive any of these roads when traffic is flowing freely and set your cruise control to 60 MPH and I guarantee you more the 85% of the vehicles are traveling faster than you.
It is only a matter of time until a lawyer gets a speeding ticket in one of Denver's illegal speed traps and starts a class action lawsuit.